Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-03-03
State AFFAIRS.
Senator Houston's Reasons for Voting
Against the Land BiII--The Kan
sas Suit Discussed.
9Ow The Anniversary OF Texas indie
pendeDcO Day was Observed by
the Twentieth Legislature.
This House at Sea Regarding Pooling, and
the senate Regarding Supreme
Court judges Salaries.
OCCUPATION TAX ELL.
Special to the Gazette.


OCCUPATION TAX ELL.
Special to the Gazette.
AUSTIN, TEX, March MIR. Page,
speaking of the occupation tax bill be-
fore the House at the morning session,
said that in view Of the possibility of the
prohibition amendment being accepted by
vote of the people, and the eXtraordi-
nary drafts on the treasury by reason Of
appropriations to drouth sufferers, and to
meet the deficiencies of the general sp-
preparation Dill and other demands, it
would be necessary to tax other occupa
lions in order that the revenue shall be
ample to meet all the demands that are
continually increasing, and ne hoped the
present bill would pass without any
amendments.
JUDICIARY AMENDMENT.
During the consideration in the Senate
Of the resolution to submit q judiciary
amendment to the constitution to be
voted on by the pc pie, discussion
arose over al attempt 20 amend the sec
ton lefei ring TO the salaries of supreme
Judges. The opinions of Senators varied
from $25OO to $4,000 year. After
motion to strike out $4,000 and insert
$500, ard an amendment to strike out
$4,000 and insert $500, and substitute
for the substitute to strike out $500 and
insert $4,000, and q final substitute for all
the amendments and substitutes that the
supreme judges shall receive such ssla-
ries lGr their services as may be pro
vided by law, not to exceed $4,000
a year, motion prevailed 10
lay the substitute and all the amendments
On the table. The question then oCCurr-
ing on the passage Of the resolution, the
discussion became general and Ok
wide range. Some of the Senators were
decidedly in favor of calling 8 cOn5titu-
tiOual convention, claiming that the pres
ent constitution was so defective that it
was impossible to patch up It's defects 10
meet TIE emergencies that are continually
arising. Others held that the question
should be left to vote of the people, VINO
were the proper forum to pass upon it.
a motion was then mace to lay On the
table subject 20 call. which carried. Thus
by skillful parliamen tarian maneuvers
the resolution passed through several
narrow chances of defeat and came back
to the starting point.
TEXAS INDEPENDENCE.
Not single patriotic member of the
House tinted that this was the anniversary
of Texas independence. Senator Harrison
arose to announce it in the Senate cham
Der, but some one moved the previous
question on him, and thus Texas natal day
passed without recognition from the law
making power Of the state government.
But not so with the departments; the
Secretary of State's office, the Comptrol-
ler's Office, the Superintendent of Public
office and the Governors
{ flee We're all closed in honor of the
Texas Fourth IF JalY.
SUIT AGAINST KANSAS.
The Senate took up the bill this morn
Ing to define g portion Of the boundary of
the state Of Texas, and to authorize q
suit to be brought il the supreme Court
Of the United States against the state Of
Kansas for portion Of territory claimed
by that state. The bill provides for the
appointment of three lawyers 20 prepare
and conduct said suit, and sppTopriate5
the sum Of $4,000 each as a payment for
their services, $1,000 Of which is to be
paid at the time the suit Is entered and
the remainder when the case is decided
[. also provides a fee contingent upon
the success of the suit OF $4,000 each.
The amount TO be recovered By the state
is said to be worth not less thau So, Co.,
200. The bill passed the Seuate and has
gone 10 the House for concurre nee.
REASONS FOR HIS VOTE.
When the lana bill passed 20 ergross-
neut in the Senate this morning Senator
Houston sent up his reasons for voting
10, which were condensed in the follow |
ng paragraph, to wit:
l. vote no because | believe Senate |
dill No. 2l9 to be unconstitutional, es-
1ecially so much of section Is as pro-
yides for an absolute lease.
,. Because the bulk of the lands named |
n the bill are unsurveyed and the CLASH |
ication thereof cOntemp ated by this bill |
Will be inaccurate if not impossible.
8. Because of the vast and far-reaching !
power sought to be vested by this bill in |
he Commissioner of the General Land |
Office.
4 The classiications by the agents
reated by this bill are final and open the
way to ruinous system of corrupt and
fraudulent sales and leases.
5. Because while peTpetuities aud
nonopolies are contrary to the genius of
zee government (bill of rights 26),
nd while our constitution (oill Of
lights section u prohibits any 1rrevoca-
lie or uncomfortable grant of special
privileges or immunities, any sggrega-
ion of capital can under this bill lease
he entire acreage named under this bill
6. Because the past experience has
hown that the leasing of our domain has
lot proved source of revenue, but has
eterded settlement and caused the de-
lrecistion of the value OF our lands.
I. Because l believe that if the people
understood this question they
would prefer that this domain should be
eserved for the home-seeker, instead of
,eing allotted as q leasehold to alien cor
,orations.
S. Because l can never give my con-
'ent to the passage of any law which will
'eserve to corporations any public lands
ipon which it denies the settler home.
TO PREVENT PooLINGs
The members of the House curing the
.fternoon session exercised their orator.
al powers over the bill to prevent pool
ng by railroads.
MIR. Gresham OF Galveston opposed the
i'll on the ground that it would imprison